Open Door takes first step toward expansion

Published 7:00 pm, Saturday, January 9, 2010

The Open Door ministry, currently located at 409 W. Indian/412 W. Buttles Sts. In Midland, is hoping to move to a new location, 222 N. Saginaw Road.

First, however, they need a conditional use permit from the city to operate their programs and services at that site, which is zoned as part of the Circle District. The permit application is the subject of a public hearing to be held before the city Planning Commission at its Tuesday night meeting.

The Open Door, an evangelical ministry, operates a soup kitchen, residential treatment facility, clothing ministry, men's and women's crises shelters. Its most pressing reason to expand is the need for a larger men's shelter, according to Open Door Board President James McDaniel.

"We've had a large population of men in our housing over the past year; we're close to capacity," McDaniel said. "We've been looking around town for an opportunity to expand. When this property (222 N. Saginaw) became available, we decided to try and purchase it. Currently, it's an office building."

The increased space would provide for double the current capacity of the men's shelter, as well as a larger soup kitchen, offices and clothing ministry.

McDaniel, who has been board president since 2007, said that the Open Door will "sell its current building outright" to start the purchase of the new one.

As recently as last September, the volunteer-run organization was facing funding shortages for its daily operations and expenses.

"Not much has turned around since then," McDaniel said. "We're reaching out in faith that we can purchase the new building. We are blessed with community and foundation support, and we will be looking to them."

Those wishing to speak either in favor of or opposition to the Open Door's application for a conditional use permit may do so during the public hearing portion of the city Planning Commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 7 p.m., in Council Chambers at Midland City Hall, 333 W. Ellsworth St. To learn more about the permit itself, go to the city website at www.midland-mi.org and following the links to Tuesday's Planning Commission agenda.